Congratulations on a great career Backy

If backstrom calls it a career, paying Malkin 8M is definitely the not the answer. He usually only plays about 70 percent of the season and he's not even worth the 8m fully available at this point in his career on a multi yr deal.
Seattle has no reason to get Eller
Los Angeles would take that, Washington has to try to get one of the other 3 RD in LAK such as Durzi, Roy, or Spence even if they need to adjust the price a bit
NJ possibly would accept

I’d be down to pay Malkin less. Walker imo is cheap and effective. Seattle needs bodies. Eller is a solid player that could bring more than a 4th at the deadline.

Malkin would fit fine on a deal that is cheaper that is ideally 2yrs, UFAs can usually push for more term. Seattle could do that in FA bc Eller does not have a value contract even though it is not a bad deal.

Backstrom looked slow as hell to me this month, so I think that his injury is just as career-threatening as Ryan Kesler's.

Like all these moves, but unfortunately i don't think malkin would sign in dc for that. would rather spend that extra 2.1 mil to add a better player than either walker or holtby. love nichuskin and think he would be a perfect fit with ovi and kuzy